The Rival's Sweetest Trick
Ever since that day, whenever lectures ended and I had free time, Rie and I kept sparring with swords.
Honestly, the gap between our levels was so vast that it wasn't helping either of us at all—not me, and definitely not her. But neither of us mentioned it.
We just wanted any tiny clue, no matter how small, to grasp at.
I worried a bit because my classmates were starting to glance at us in strange ways, but we decided to worry about that later.
“Hah… huff…”
It had been a full week since I’d started mixing swords with Rie.
Today, too, I was moving without a break until I finally collapsed right where I stood.
My heart pounding as if it would burst, muscles pushed to their absolute limit until they spasmed.
Anyone else would’ve felt proud—“You worked so hard today!”
But I couldn’t even think that.
‘Come on… there’s no answer in sight. Damn it…’
If this were any normal person, something should’ve clicked by now. But I’m no ordinary genius.
Even the knights my family had invited all shook their heads after trying to spar with me.
I’d thought maybe Rie would have some trick up her sleeve, but they’d said geniuses aren’t good at teaching.
And if the opponent was a dunce or even a dullard, it would’ve been even worse.
“Haa…”
Rie sighed deeply too, looking just as frustrated.
If we kept sparring for a few days, we’d figure out the problem somehow—whether it was lack of will, overly stiff muscles, too much fear, or maybe she just didn’t feel like trying hard because it was annoying.
After considering every possibility and sparring again and again, the answer she finally gave me was…
“Lucian. You really… are frustrating.”
“Please don’t beat me up with facts like that.”
“Sorry. But it’s true. After a whole week of sparring, I thought we’d at least find the cause, even if we couldn’t find the breakthrough.”
“I told you—the knights my family invited couldn’t find an answer either.”
My father’s connections were solid, and he knew plenty of capable knights.
So when I brought them in to test me, every single one of them sparred with me and then shook their heads, saying they had no idea how to evaluate this kid.
“It would’ve been simpler if they’d just said I had no talent in any area. But I can read your sword path exactly. Not only that—I even drew it out and explained it. Your ability to analyze your opponent is extraordinary. If you only knew how to swing a sword, I swear anyone could’ve beaten you.”
“If that’s the case…”
The problem is the “if.” If that were possible, I would’ve mastered sword genius and magic genius long ago. Sigh…
I let out another heavy sigh.
Even Rie, the genius, had spent a week sparring with me directly. Shouldn’t something show by now?
I’d cautiously hoped, but it all came crashing down.
Apparently, according to rumors, Forbes had been stimulated somehow and was suddenly swinging his sword around wildly.
Even without seeing it, I could guess what that idiot was thinking.
He knew I’d been sparring with Rie constantly, so he probably wanted to catch me, smash me completely, make me drop out, and keep me from bothering Rie anymore.
It was almost too simple. I couldn’t believe the cliché still existed.
“You worked hard today too. And sorry, Rie.”
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t not try, and I know that. You tried enough. Let’s stop here today and start again tomorrow. Keep going, and you’ll find the answer someday.”
We would find it—same as always.
Still, her answer gave me some hope. I nodded.
After all, she’d said she could become a Sword Master before the decade ended. I couldn’t not believe her—anyone else’s word would’ve been the same.
When I stood up, a sudden craving hit me.
Lately, because I’d been training with Rie every day, I hadn’t gone to the cafe where I usually sat and ate my fill.
Of course I hadn’t even sipped the hot chocolate I loved so much.
“Rie? When you’re free, let’s go to the cafe? I’ll treat you to one.”
“More hot chocolate? You’re not a kid anymore. How about looking at other favorite drinks?”
“Kid or adult, if it tastes good, that’s all that matters. Respect my taste.”
“Well… the academy’s cafe really does make excellent drinks. Plus you’ve been moving your body a lot. You should have some sugar to replenish.”
One of the things I was glad about ever since getting closer to Rie—
She secretly liked sweet things just like me.
Many couples struggle because their tastes differ. But with this common ground, it would definitely be a good thing between me and Rie.
When I stepped into the cafe, the sweet-and-bitter aroma hit me full force.
It sold hot chocolate, various coffees and teas, and simple desserts.
By comparison, it was a lot like the specialty coffee shop I’d known in my previous life.
“Two hot chocolates, please.”
“Yes. Oh, and make one the smallest size for me.”
“Understood. I’ll let you know when the drinks are ready.”
After ordering, I headed to the quieter corner window seat in the student-sparse cafe.
Since lectures were about to start, the place was relatively empty.
Only students without classes, like me and Rie, sat around, chatting quietly and sipping their drinks.
“Honestly, I figured your tastes would’ve changed by now.”
I didn’t want to talk about swordsmanship here.
While I was racking my brain for what else we could discuss, Rie whispered with a tiny smile at the corner of her mouth.
“What were you… oh, you like hot chocolate?”
“Yeah. I’ve had it on my tongue since I was little. Once, I ate too much of it, and your sister-in-law scolded me so hard. Why would anyone try to eat only things that don’t agree with their body?”
“Doesn’t agree with my body?! It’s the fuel that keeps my brain spinning like crazy. You have no idea how important it is to my life. I could explain it all day and you still wouldn’t get it.”
It wasn’t a joke—this was the side effect of the ability I have.
As I said before, the moment hot chocolate is right in front of me, I can’t resist it.
And without sugar, my head won’t turn, my vision gets foggy.
If I had to compare it to something… I’d say it’s like someone with low blood sugar.
Of course, it doesn’t make me pass out from lack of sugar.
“Really?”
“What?”
“If you don’t like sweet things—specifically hot chocolate—your whole body goes limp.”
“Not exactly limp… well, maybe. Anyway, my brain stops working. Thinking, analyzing, everything slows down.”
“Amazing. I just thought you liked sweet things, Lucian.”
“I’m a person too. I’d get tired of it if I ate it every day. But there’s always a reason I keep chasing it like this.”
“That’s true.”
Rie smiled beautifully and giggled, laughing softly.
When I heard Locke’s words, he said the Martial Division classmates had never seen Rie smile like that before.
She only showed this side to me, so my heart inexplicably raced.
Her skill, her personality, her looks—everything screamed angel.
Thinking that such a woman was being taken by that idiot Forbes made my blood boil.
It was a crime. A heinous crime no one would ever forgive.
“Ah. Looks like the order’s ready. I’ll get it.”
“No. I’ll get them. You brought them last time, didn’t you, Lucian?”
Rie said that, then went and picked up the two hot chocolates.
Just as I was about to reach for the one with steam still rising.
Rie suddenly frowned slightly, then stopped dead in her tracks.
“Rie?”
“Wait… now that I think about it, why did I forget that?”
“What do you mean?”
“This is the thing you like most in the world.”
She was saying the weirdest things.
I just stared at her in confusion. She suddenly turned and headed for the door. Before leaving, she said, “Give me that!”
“Eh, where are you going?!”
“Follow me. There’s something I want to check.”
“Wait, don’t we have to drink this first?”
“We’re in a hurry.”
“That cup is from the cafe! How can you just carry it away like this?!”
“I’ll return it. I’m a regular at the academy cafe—how did you not know that?”
Rie kept walking somewhere without a word, and I realized where she was headed.
The training spot from just moments ago.
I’d finally come to rest, but now I had to go back again?
Even though she usually took proper rest, now she was breaking even that to train?
No matter what, the hot chocolate I’d just ordered was cooling in my hand, and now it was about swordsmanship again?
The path of swordsmanship really was long and treacherous…
“Rie? What are you doing right now?”
Rie placed the steaming hot chocolate on the rack for wooden swords, then picked one up and started swinging it as she spoke.
“A new training method. Made just for you.”
“Wait… why is there hot chocolate in there?”
“Simple. From now on, I’m going to attack that cup. And I’ll do my absolute best. I’m going to break the cup full of the chocolate you like so much. Want to protect it? Want to get it back? Then block my attack before it touches the cup. See? It’s simple, right?”
Simple? What the hell was that?
Even though she’d slowed her attacks as much as possible, I’d barely managed to block every single one of them.
But in this situation, she was going all out to break the cup and telling me to block it?
“What are you doing? Stop swinging already! The hot chocolate’s going to be ruined!”
“Just a second. Rie. Pranking with food is banned even in the kingdom…”
“Don’t worry. If you drop the cup and it spills and breaks, that’s it. Let’s start.”
“This isn’t it! Swordsmanship isn’t some kids’ game or animal training, and using food as a hostage like this isn’t going to work! Stop it…”
“I said we’re starting.”
Wait, what? Seriously? Rie? It’s hot chocolate inside! Hot chocolate!
One of the most important things in my entire life that I can never do without…
CLANG! CRASH! —
Right in front of me, the cup shattered exactly as I’d feared.
Thanks to that, the hot chocolate poured out everywhere.
The sweet, characteristic aroma of hot chocolate filled my nose.
I hadn’t even taken a sip, yet the freshly made hot chocolate was already ruined.
“Next.”
Rie said that, then placed the last remaining hot chocolate on top.
If I didn’t block her attack right now, even this final one would disappear in front of me.
The angel—who now looked like a demon—was whispering to me like that.
“Shall we start, Lucian?”
She said it as if declaring war, then gripped her wooden sword again.
I wanted to tell her to stop, but her swings were faster than anything I’d ever seen.
I swung my own wooden sword on instinct, but it was completely impossible.
After a week of pushing myself until I was about to burst, this was how it ended?
Wait, there was no way! I’m not some animal, and training with food isn’t going to work!
WHAM! —
“…”
“…”
It was working.